The COVID‐19 pandemic is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, which has had a negative impact worldwide. Our aim was to describe clinical findings and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)‐CoV‐2 viral infection and COVID‐19 cared for at a large pediatric tertiary care hospital during the first year of the pandemic. Patients aged 1 month to 18 years who were diagnosed as having COVID‐19 between March 2020 and April 2021 were included. The files of patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Four hundred sixty seven children were included in the study. There were 34 (7.3%) patients under 1 year of age, 111 (23.8%) between 1 and 5 years, 98 (30.4%) between 5 and 10 years, 142 (30.4%) between 11 and 15 years, and 82 (17.6%) age over 15 years. Fever (88.2%), vomiting (32.4%), and diarrhea (29.4%) in patients aged under 1 year, sore throat (36.6%) in patients aged 11−15 years, and dysgeusia (11%), anosmia (14.6%), headache (18.3%), malaise (40.8%), myalgia (28%), and shortness of breath (17.1%) in those aged over 15 years were found to be significantly more common in comparison with the other age groups ( p < 0.05). Thirty‐five (7.5%) patients were asymptomatic, 365 (78.1%) had mild disease, 35 (7.5%) were moderate, 27 (5.8%) were severe, and five (1.07%) were critical. Leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ferritin, and C‐reactive protein values were significantly higher in hospitalized patients. Three patients died during the study period (0.64%). While SARS‐CoV‐2 infection may be asymptomatic and COVID‐19 usually has a mild clinical course, some children have severe disease or mortality.

Inborn errors of IFN-γ immunity can underlie tuberculosis (TB). We report three patients from two kindreds without EBV viremia or disease but with severe TB and inherited complete ITK deficiency, a condition associated with severe EBV disease that renders immunological studies challenging. They have CD4+ αβ T lymphocytopenia with a concomitant expansion of CD4−CD8− double-negative (DN) αβ and Vδ2− γδ T lymphocytes, both displaying a unique CD38+CD45RA+T-bet+EOMES− phenotype. Itk-deficient mice recapitulated an expansion of the γδ T and DN αβ T lymphocyte populations in the thymus and spleen, respectively. Moreover, the patients’ T lymphocytes secrete small amounts of IFN-γ in response to TCR crosslinking, mitogens, or forced synapse formation with autologous B lymphocytes. Finally, the patients’ total lymphocytes secrete small amounts of IFN-γ, and CD4+, CD8+, DN αβ T, Vδ2+ γδ T, and MAIT cells display impaired IFN-γ production in response to BCG. Inherited ITK deficiency undermines the development and function of various IFN-γ–producing T cell subsets, thereby underlying TB.

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Objective: Foreign body aspiration remains a serious health problem with a potential for severe consequences, and acute and chronic problems in children. It therefore demands immediate intervention. Rigid bronchoscopy has long been the method of choice for foreign body removal but is now being replaced by flexible bronchoscopy which offers reduced trauma and the ability to access distal bronchial regions. In the presented study we assessed the patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy for foreign body removal in our clinic. Methods: We reviewed the records of 20 patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy due to suspected foreign body aspiration and had a foreign body removed in our clinic. Patients were analyzed in terms of sociodemographic data, foreign bodies removed, method of foreign body removal, foreign body location and time to diagnosis. Results: Our study group included nine females and 11 males. The removed foreign body was organic in 19 of the 20 patients and inorganic in one patient. Hard organic food, such as hazelnuts, peanuts, seeds, almonds, and raw corn kernel were identified in 12 patients, a piece of fishbone in one patient and a piece of gelatin in another. The pieces of soft organic food identified were apple in one patient, egg in one patient, and boiled corn kernel in one patient and removed by suction. The foreign body was removed using forceps in nine patients, and a basket was used successfully in seven patients. Conclusion: Foreign bodies can be removed with minimal complication using flexible bronchoscopy, basket, and forceps in children.